Rope or cable clamp.



PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

A. H. MBECH. ROPE 0R GABLB CLAMP.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 13. 1906.

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ALFRED H. MEECH, OF OHATHAM, NEW YORK.

ROPE OR CABLE CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed March 13, 1906. Serial No. 305,767-

To all whom it may concm'n:

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. Manon, a citizen of I the United States,residing at Chatham, in the county of Columbia and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rope or Cable 7Clamps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact which is soconstituted as to deflect the rope or cable,

by the clamping action into a tortuous or bent form.

The clamp is also designed to bite the cable at one or,

more points along the length thereof, in conjunction with the bendingaction.

A further object of the invention is to embody the principles andfeatures above stated, in a simple struc-v ture, not requiring anycareful tool or machine work,

which can be sold cheaply on the market and which is strong and durable.

With these. objects in view the invention consists in the features ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed. 7

In the drawing, Figure 1 shows the various parts of a clamp embodyingthe principles of my invention in positions ready for assembling upon acable. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the action of the clamp in adjusting itself to cablesof different sizes. Fig. 3 is a sectional viewof a' modified construction, illustrating the deflection of the cableinto tortuous form or bends by the clamping action.

The principal aim of my invention is to provide a clamp which is capableof fastening the ends of steel wire cables with a security equal to thetensile strength of the cable.

On account of the fact that the surface friction of polished steel wireis low, a clamp which merely relies on such surface friction is veryunlikely'to have as great a fastening power as the strength of thecable. It has accordingly been customary to use a number of clamps, orclanips with a great many bolts 01' parts in order to obtain the desiredsecurity. i v

In carrying out'my invention I secure by the clamping pressure, adeflection of the cable elements, so that as the result of the grippingpressure there is secured a bend in the cable, the amount of which maybe made as great as necessary and proportional to the gripping force.The clampingmembers are also designed to bite the cable at oneor morepointsand thereby obtainan additional security. a '1 In the drawings inwhich like parts are designated by the same reference sign wherever theyoccur, 1 indicates what I shall term the deflection member, and 2 theclamping member of a two part cable clamp. The essential characteristicof the deflection member 1, is the provision of wedging faces 3,inclined to one another and located opposite one another in a directiontransverse of the member. In other words, there are providedwedgingfaces 3, in opposite pairs, the different pairs being in spacedtransverse planes along the length of the member. Intermediate theadjacent pairs of the wedging faces I provide one or more abutments 9,whichmay be ordinary bolts. These bolts have a triple function. First,to hold the two clamping members together. Second, to cooperate with thewedging faces so as to deflect the cables into tortuous form. Third, tobite the cable as will hereinafter appear. g

The deflection member 1, is preferably constructed with a back 4, andthe wedging faces 3, above mentioned, are located on legs projectingfrom the back. 5 indicates intermediatecut away portions of' the deflection member, and dis a bolt hole, of which there may be as many asdesired, occupying a position intermediate to the transverse planes inwhich the wedging faces 3 act.

The clamping member 2,, is designed to press the cable into engagementwith: the wedging faces 3 of the member 1. This causes thedeflecti0n ofthe cableinto bent or tortuous form, as above stated. The clampingmember 2 is also designed to bite the cable against the bolt or bolts 9.For this purpose 'there are provided what I shall term gripping faces 7,disposed to act in transverse planes intermediate those of the wedgingfaces 3, of the opposite clamping member, in which re- .lation thegripping faces 7, lie opposite the bolt holes 6.

or holes 8, which falls in alinement with the bolt hole or holes 6 inuse. 9 indicates the ordinary bolt or bolts, which may be passed throughthe alined bolt holes.

The use and operation is as follows :-It being desired to fastentogether two adjacent pieces of rope or cable, indicated at 10 and 1 1,which may be the free ends of separate pieces, or parts of the samecable produced in the formation of an eye; the two sections are laidside by side within the deflection member 1. In this relation the bolts9 are inserted in the holes 6 so as tolie between the cable sections.The clamp is adapted for use with cables of different diameters, withincertain limits, it being evident that small cables will pass downwardupon the wedge faces 3 agreater distance than large cables, the cable inall cases finding a position where it is inclosed snugly by the bolts 9and points on the wedge faces 3. The clamping element 2 is now slippedinto position over the bolts 9, and ordinary nuts placed on said boltsand tightened, so that theclamp- The clamping member is also providedwith a bolt hole ing element 2 is pressed downward and the inclinedfaces 7 are borne against the cable sections and press them inwardagainst the member 1. At this time the wedge faces 3 become effective tobuckle or bend the cable slightly around the various intermediate bolts,so that the cable takes on a series of bends between the grippingsurfaces, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. As above stated, the grippingfaces 7 have a purpose additional to their function in pressing thecables downward in o h tor u is rm abov in n ion (1 hichis 0 t t e t {0e t e W t her. and an abutment projecting between the cables to secure apowerful biting force upon the cables in conjunct on with the wallsformed by the various bolts. The inclined nature of the faces 7 permitsthem to exercise the function of pressing the cable downward and at thesame time biting it securely against the bolt walls. Thus the cable isrigidly bit in a series of transverse planes corresponding to theseveralbolts, and is deflected intermediate such clamped portions intobends which have a very great effect to increase the resisting force ofthe clamp. Another effect'of the inclined surfaces 3 and 7, is that theclamp is capable of according itself to cables of different diameters.For

example a single clamp may be 'apable of taking a 3/8 cable or a 5/16cable, the clamping members being drawn further together in case of the5/ i6 cable than with the 3/8 cable. 7*

In the above description I have referred to theme of one, or more thanone bolts for clamping the mem-.

bers together. Itis to be understood that a greater number of boltswould be necessary for large than for small cables; in practice one boltis employed for small c ables, two for cables of medium size, and alarger number for larger sizes. If more than one bolt is used the numberof faces 3 and 7 is of course proportionately increased, as shown inFig. 3. In the annexed claims I therefore do not wish to be limited tothe use of one bolt; the expression a bolt being intended to read on thestructure of Fig. .3, as well as that of Fig. 1.

What I claim, is

1. A cable clamp comprising two members, one having opposed wedge facesinclined to one another and located in pairs along the length of themember, and an abutment between adjacent pairs of the wedge faces andarranged to project between the cables to be clumped. w

2. A cable clamp comprising two members, one having opposed grippingfaces inclined to one another and located opposite one another in adirection transverse of the membe clamped and between said faces andcooperating therewith to bite the cables.

it. A cable clamp comprising a member having opposed gripping facesinclined to one another and located opposite one another in a directiontransverse of the member. an abutment between said faces andcoiiperuting therewith to bite the cable, and a plurality of pairs ofopposed wedge faces coiiperating with said abutment to deflect the cableinto a tortuous form.

4. A cable clamp comprising two members, one having:

wedge faces. and an abutment arranged to project between and engage thecables to be clamped at places intermediate said wedge faceslongitudinally of the member, whereby the cable is deflected into aseries oi bends.

A cubie clamp. comprising a deflection member having wedge faces inspaced transverse planes along its length, on nbulment at a pointintermediate of the adjacent pairs and cooperating with said faces todeflect a cable into a tortuous form. and a clamping member separatefrom said abutment.

6. in arable clamp, a pair of members each having legs with inside wedgefaces adapted to engage a pair of cable sections to press them towardone another, and an abutment between the cable sections whereby they are(is iiected.

in witness whereof. I subscribe my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

ALFRED II. MEECH.

Witnesses FRANK S. ()nnn, \VALAR M. CHAPIN.

